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What are the perceived learning needs of Australian general practice registrars for quality prescribing?

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journal contribution
posted on 2010-01-01, 00:00 authored by Rola AjjawiRola Ajjawi, J E Thistlethwaite, P Aslani, N B Cooling
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the perceived learning needs of Australian general practice (GP) registrars in relation to the quality use of medicines (QUM) or the difficulties experienced when learning to prescribe. This study aimed to address this gap. METHODS: GP registrars' perceived learning needs were investigated through an online national survey, interviews and focus groups. Medical educators' perceptions were canvassed in semi-structured interviews in order to gain a broader perspective of the registrars' needs. Qualitative data analysis was informed by a systematic framework method involving a number of stages. Survey data were analysed descriptively. RESULTS: The two most commonly attended QUM educational activities took place in the workplace and through regional training providers. Outside of these structured educational activities, registrars learned to prescribe mainly through social and situated means. Difficulties encountered by GP registrars included the transition from hospital prescribing to prescribing in the GP context, judging how well they were prescribing and identifying appropriate and efficient sources of information at the point of care. CONCLUSIONS: GP registrars learn to prescribe primarily and opportunistically in the workplace. Despite many resources being expended on the provision of guidelines, decision-support systems and training, GP registrars expressed difficulties related to QUM. Ways of easing the transition into GP and of managing the information 'overload' related to medicines (and prescribing) in an evidence-guided, efficient and timely manner are needed. GP registrars should be provided with explicit feedback about the process and outcomes of prescribing decisions, including the use of audits, in order to improve their ability to judge their own prescribing.

History

Journal

BMC medical education

Volume

10

Season

Article Number : 92

Article number

92

Pagination

1 - 7

Publisher

BioMed Central

Location

London, Eng.

eISSN

1472-6920

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2010, BioMed Central